Householders are welcome to attend on Wednesday 23 May at 7pm. This information session will help people understand the risks of asbestos and how to deal with and identify asbestos in the home.

Businesses, trades people and contractors will be able to attend Specific Awareness Training – Level 1, and Working with Asbestos – Level 2 on Thursday 24 May from 12.30 to 4.30pm. This training session will assist people in dealing with small jobs, maintenance and emergency situations.

The training and information sessions will be run by Asbestos and You, who are specialists in the field of asbestos management. John Carter, also known as “Mr Asbestos and You”, will be running sessions whilst in Alice Springs.

“I am a staunch advocate of community awareness when it comes to asbestos. If residents can understand the risks and how to minimize them by identifying materials that could have asbestos in them, and learn how to deal with them in a safe manner there is little need to panic,” said Mr Carter.

“Asbestos is a very dangerous material when it is not handled correctly, so our job is to educate the entire community in how to do this safely,” Mr Carter said.

Mr Carter’s company Asbestos and You has also developed a range of training and safety products for industry and the general householder which he sells online at www.asbestosandyou.com.au as he feels it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that asbestos related illness and deaths are minimized.

Alice Springs Town Council is pleased to provide the opportunity for members of the community to have access to free asbestos training and information sessions.

“Through our partnership programme with Asbestos and You, we hope to increase the level of awareness in the community about the dangers of asbestos and what people can do when they come in contact with it,” said Mayor Fran Kilgariff.

To register and reserve a place for the training and information sessions contact Tony Jennison at the Alice Springs Town Council on 89500540.

For further information contact:

Mayor Fran Kilgariff (08) 8950 0525 or 0419 376 060

ASTC Chief Executive Officer Rex Mooney (08) 8950 0525 or 0427 161 956

ASTC Media Officer Fionn Muster (08) 8950 0546 or 0417 884 449

Asbestos and You - John Carter (08) 8212 1111 or 0417 814 330 and Suzanne Fischer (08) 8212 1111